Trey Hillman is trying to keep his priorities straight. It's been a difficult task lately because of what's happening with the team that he has followed since 1972.

Hillman is once again a candidate to be a manager of the Rangers as he prepares the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to play the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Series.

"I don't want to divert my attention to what's going on," said Hillman, whose team won the Pacific League pennant for the first time since 1981 and will open the Japan Series on Oct. 21 in Sapporo.

While that is happening, the Rangers are looking for a new manager after letting Buck Showalter go at the end of the season. Hillman is one of four candidates for the job along with Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Athletics third-base coach Ron Washington and Mets third-base coach Manny Acta.

"I'm keeping an open mind and hoping to have the opportunity in time to discuss the possibility," Hillman said on Saturday night by phone from Japan. "It would be special. I'm not totally blind to what's going on. If that's in the plan, God will open that opportunity. If not, I'll be glad to stay here."

Hillman has managed the Fighters for four years and his contract is up at the end of the season. He was ready to sign an extension in August, but the Fighters' owners decided to wait until after the season is over.

Now they want him back, but he has told them he will wait until after the season. There is no doubt that he would love to manage the Rangers. He is from Arlington, having played at Arlington Sam Houston High School and at UT-Arlington. He was also the Rangers' farm director in 2002 before going to Japan.

"It goes without saying," Hillman said. "I grew up there, and you know how Texans are with their state pride. I grew up in Arlington from 1965, but I remember in 1972 when the old Rangers moved in. I don't know if there was a 9-year-old who was more excited growing up at the old ballpark."

His father, Royce Hillman, was a coach and principal in the Arlington school system. He also worked in the ticket booth at Rangers games when they first showed up and his son would join him at the ballpark.

"I'd go to work with dad and get there before the ballplayers were there," Hillman said. "I know where the players parked and when they showed up, I'd head down to sit by the dugout. Guys like Toby Harrah, Cesar Tovar, they treated me well.

"To be involved with the Texas Rangers, it would be something I would love to do."

He follows them. His computer in Japan is set up with a Sling Box that allows him to watch as many games as possible. He has kept in touch with general manager Jon Daniels and other Rangers officials.

When international scouting director A.J. Preller and scout Keith Boeck went to Japan in September, Hillman helped show them around.

"As I would anybody," Hillman said.

They have not spoken about the manager's job yet and won't do so until after the Japan Series is over. When they do, Hillman will be prepared.

"I have a sense of the Texas Rangers lineup and know what the status of their rotation is," Hillman said. "I know about their up-and-coming young pitching. I have a pretty good sense of what their needs are for next year. I do know the 40-man rosters of the American League West teams. I've done a little homework.

"I know Andy Pettitte is available [as a free agent], and I had him for two years [in the Yankees organization] and he'd like to stay in Texas. I keep up. But my primary focus is here right now."

Hillman is also familiar with Daisuke Matsuzaka, the 26-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Seibu Lions who is planning to pitch in the Major Leagues next year.

"He's legit," Hillman said. "I think he would be most clubs No. 1 or No. 2 starter. Well, maybe with Detroit with their hard throwers he might be No. 3 or No. 4. But he's legit."

Hillman has 12 years of Minor League managerial experience with the New York Yankees, winning three Manager of the Year Awards. The Rangers hired him to be their farm director in 2002, and he was a strong candidate to replace Jerry Narron as manager after the season but could not get out of a commitment to manage in Japan.

"The Rangers told me they were really going to try to get me out of that commitment," Hillman said. "I didn't have a contract, but I told somebody I was going to do something and I was going to honor that."

The Rangers hired Showalter instead. Now Hillman gets a second chance.

Asked if he could win in Texas, Hillman said, "I would love to have that challenge. But if that young pitching develops and they add a couple of the right pieces when that pitching is polished off, I like the Rangers' chances whether Trey Hillman is there or not."

But the Chunichi Dragons come first.